TRAVEL WEST FORUM, a leading innovative conference on Tourism in Western Greece, returns for the second consecutive year in March 2025, aiming to explore how the wider Western Greece region can evolve into a key destination for alternative tourism.
Given that Greek tourism is entering a new era, shifting towards sustainable and eco-friendly alternative forms beyond the saturated "Sun & Sea" model, the conference seeks to determine how Western Greece can follow the country's upward trend in the tourism sector by leveraging its comparative advantages.
The conference is organized by thebest.gr, the largest news media portal in Western Greece, with the participation of the Administrative Region of Western Greece, co-organized by the Chamber of Achaia, in collaboration with the Port Authority of Patras and held under the auspices of the University of Patras.
LIVE STREAMING
TWF 2024
See the entire Travel West Forum 2024 here
TWF 202410
sections
37
speakers
SPONSORS
GOLDEN SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
FRAMEWORK
The cultural heritage and natural features of the Region of Western Greece (extensive coastline, blue flags, nearby islands, nature), as well as its historical position as a cradle of creation, a stronghold of development, and outward orientation for the country (site of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Olympic Games, etc.), form a mosaic that can serve as the foundation for alternative forms of tourism (such as cultural, maritime, wine tourism, sports, conference, religious, agritourism), offering benefits in terms of extending the tourist season and positioning the region correctly as a new tourist market within the high- spending, alternative international tourist market.
PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE
The purpose of the Conference is to highlight the advantages of the Region of Western Greece (starting with Achaia) in areas related to tourism, as well as to:
a.
Discuss the modern, alternative, mild, sustainable approach to tourism and the new image that the region could project through strong marketing.
b.
Explore the significance of tourism to the Region of Western Greece's economy and business development in tourism-related sectors.
c.
Present good examples for the area's tourism development and new proposals and approaches.
d.
The Travel West Forum aims to serve as an ideal platform for exchanging views among stakeholders and to strengthen the spirit of cooperation.
SPEAKERS
Items list
PROGRAM
10:00
Arrival – Registration
10:35
Opening
Welcome to the 2nd Travel West Forum
10:40 - 11:20
Greetings – Speeches
George Papandreou | Former Prime Minister, Honorary President of the Socialist International, PASOK MP for Achaia
Iason Fotilas | Deputy Minister of Culture
Konstantinos Arvanitis | Vice President of The Left, Head of the SYRIZA European Parliamentary Group
Nektarios Farmakis* | Regional Governor of Western Greece
Christos Bouras | Rector of the University of Patras
11.20 - 11.40
Tourism as a Lever for Economic Development
- Theodoros Louloudis | President of the Achaia Chamber of Commerce
11:50 - 12:20
Modern Cities & Tourism: Shaping the Future of Urban Life with Alternative Rules
- Dimitrios Vergados | UNESCO Chair Holder & Professor, Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus
“Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources” - Machi Georgakopoulou | Economist, President of Hellenic Female Leaders UK
“Patras 2030: The role of academic research, innovation, and contemporary art in the rebirth of Patras as a new international hub. New development models and prospects” - Fay Makantasi | Research Director at diaNEOsis
“Alternative forms of tourism, ecotourism, and untapped opportunities”
12:20 - 12:40
Tourism and Regional Development in Western Greece – New Trends, Sustainable Strategies
- Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos | Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Region of Western Greece
“Tourism in Western Greece – Economic indicators, data, challenges, prospects” - Petros Papapetropoulos | Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“Tourism and regional development, the dynamics of the network of productive activities”
12:50 - 13:20
Green Policies and the Environment – The Road to Sustainability – The Case of Aigialeia
- Panagiotis Andriopoulos | Mayor of Aigialeia
Greeting - Nikos Karaiskos | Deputy Mayor for Sanitation and Environment, Municipality of Aigialeia
“Waste management infrastructure and environmental protection as a developmental asset for tourism” - George Dinos | President of the Aigialeia Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYA)
“Wastewater management and tourism. How modern infrastructure ensures environmental protection and strengthens the tourism destination” - Christos Kanellis | Vice President of Achaia Hoteliers
“Sustainable Tourism Development – Aigialeia 2030”
13:20 - 13:50
Cultural Tourism: History and Tradition as Pillars of Alternative Development
- Charalampos Bonanos | Deputy Regional Governor of Western Greece
“FILM OFFICE: Western Greece in the film industry – Attracting audiovisual productions in Achaia, Ilia, Aetolia-Acarnania” - Anastasia Koumousi | Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia
“Highlighting archaeological monuments and museums in Achaia as a driver of tourism development” - Alexandros Panagiotopoulos | Cultural Manager, “Messolonghi by Locals”
“Messolonghi by Locals: When cultural heritage becomes a living experience and a source of revitalization | Sustainable communities, authentic experiences”
13:50 - 14:40
Lunch Break
14:50 - 15:10
Wine Tourism and Gastronomy: The Flavor of Places, the “Aroma” of Travel
- Katerina Nikolou | Ιntelligent Collaborations, Co-Founder and Co-Owner Strategic Communications Consultant
“Messinia Terroirs. From Tourism... to the Wine Routes” - Konstantina Voulgari Kontesopoulou | Award-winning Chef, Owner of CVK Greek Food Consulting
“The cultural mapping of a place and the empowerment of tourism through gastronomy”
15:15 - 15:55
Transportation: The Port of Patras and “Accessibility” in Tourism
- Panagiotis Anastasopoulos | CEO of Patras Port Authority
“The Sustainable Port of Patras” - Ignatios Fotiou | Founder of TOBEA
“Accessible Tourism: SEATRAC as a Model of Sustainable Innovation” - Eleni Giannaki | Airport Manager, Araxos State Airport
“The outlook for increasing air traffic at Araxos Airport and new forms of tourism” - Eleni Paraschi | Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“Cruising in Greece: Opportunities and Challenges for Tourism” - Antonis Charokopos | Vice President, National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities
“Promoting Accessible Tourism for People with Disabilities in the Region of Western Greece”
16:00 - 16:30
The Smart Transformation of Tourism | Artificial Intelligence and New Megatrends
- Apostolos Rafailidis | President, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“Megatrends in tourism: a brief overview” - Ioannis Nikas | Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Management, University of Patras
“From Big Data to Smart Tourism Experience”
16:30 - 17:00
Hotelling & Destinations: When Accommodation Becomes an Experience
- Myrto Kiourti | Architect Engineer
“Architecture: Showcasing the stories of places and people” - Nikos Karaflos* | Owner of Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
“Transforming an interwar landmark into an experiential hotel” - Tatiana Dimou | Architect Engineer
“The potential of architecture as a hospitality experience”
17:00 - 17:40
Mega Events: Creating New Destinations
- Eleni Albani | Vice Rector, University of Patras
“Welcome to Up. The new pioneering institution of the University of Patras as a youth destination in Western Greece this autumn” - Sofia Chintziou-Kontogianni | President of the Olympia Sympoliteia and Politeia Ilida Olympia
“Ecotourism Route Ilida-Olympia, The path of truce” - Nikolaos Papanikolaou | Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection, Urban Planning & Sustainable Tourism, Municipality of Messolonghi
“1826–2026: 200 Years Since the Exodus of Messolonghi – A historic event as a source of special interest tourism” - Alexis Agrios | General Manager of Kalavryta Ski Center
“Developing Alternative Forms of Tourism in Mountain Areas – Helmos Mountain Festival: How a Mountain Festival Boosted the Economy of an Entire Region” - Cleomenis Kostopoulos | Artistic Director of Patras International Street Art Festival │ ArtWalk
“Patras International Street Art Festival / ArtWalk. How contemporary culture can create cultural tourism and city breaks”
17:50
Closing of the Conference
Presenter
Eleni Kitsou | Journalist
Session Moderation
Gogo Papadakou | Journalist
Konstantina Tsichla | Journalist
Pepi Spiliotopoulou | Journalist
Flash Interview
Konstantina Tsichla | Journalist
*Virtual
VIDEOS - GALLERY
Flash Interviews Recap
TWF-Recap Trailer Short
TWF-Recap Trailer Long
TWF-The whole Conference (from live streaming)
ORGANIZERS
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